A20756:515
The conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The…The conflict betvveene the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The…
The conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The Christian warfare wherein is described the nature of these combatants, the malice and power of the flesh and fleshly lusts, with the means whereby we may subdue and overcome them. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods Word.The conflict betvveene the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The Christian warfare wherein is described the nature of these combatants, the malice and power of the flesh and fleshly lusts, with the meanes whereby we may subdue and ouercome them. By Iohn Dovvname Batchelar in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by William Jones, 1618London: printed by William Iones, 1618
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore let grace teach us the same vigilancy and wise providence in spiritual things, and cause us to double our care in withstanding those sins wherewith we have been most often surprised, and bend our whole strength and endeavour for the subduing and mortifying those carnal corruptions and fleshly lusts which are most strong and raging in us.
And therefore let grace teach vs the same vigilancy and wise prouidence in spirituall things, and cause vs to double our care in withstanding those sinnes wherewith we haue beene most often surprized, and bend our whole strength and endeauour for the subduing and mortifying those carnall corruptions and fleshly lusts which are most strong and raging in vs.
1The last rule is that we set unto our selves no stint in mortifying and subduing our fleshly lusts, but that we labour from one degree to attain unto another, until we attain unto perfection. We must not deal with these spiritual enemies as Joash with the Aramites contenting our selves with two or three victories over them, for then they will again gather head and renewing their forces afresh assault ⟨p. 373⟩us, but we must continually make war against them, until we have given them a final overthrow. We must not deal with them, as the Israelites with the cursed nations, suffering them quietly to dwell with us, on condition that they will contribute something to our pleasure or profit, but we must make war against them according to Gods Commandment, and never make any peace or truce, until we have utterly rooted them out; or at the best let us deal with them as Joshua with the Gibeonites, if they must needs dwell with us, let us hold them under as our slaves, and make them to become droyles and drudges ready to yield obedience to every spiritual motion. Let us not deal with our carnal lusts as Ahab and Saul with Benhadad and Agag, get the victory over them and suffer them to live least in Gods just judgment our life be exchanged for theirs, and they kill us, because we killed not them. Neither let us with Saul destroy the lowest of the people, and the vilest of these carnal cattle, reserving alive the chief of our corruptions, and the fattest of our fleshly lusts, whereby we have most gain and advantage, most pleasure and delight; Let us not be like unto Herod, who refrained from many sins, but would not leave his incestuous darling, or like unto Judas and Demas who having outwardly reformed themselves of many sins, did still nourish their covetousness and love of the world. For if when we cast out Satan and the flesh, we suffer any of their spawn or sinful corruptions to remain in us, they will be pledges and pawns unto us of their returning, and when they come back and bring many other wicked spirits